Divorce Action in Williams Co, OH - Letcher (Roll 47)

The couple was married on 26 May 1880 in Wms Co (Marriage V4 p688).James charged Flora with being willfully absent for more than three years and being unfit to have custody of their child, Harold H, born 28 Feb 1882, Bryan, OH (Births V2 p33).A notice appeared in the Bryan Press on 21 Feb 1889 and ran for six consecutive weeks.A divorce was granted. Note that Harold must have decided his mother was “fit” as he resided with her for decades (see below).James is to pay court costs and Flora is to have custody of child Herbert Letcher with James given a visitation schedule. There was mention of attorney Gustavus Baylis of New York City.

James H. Letcher, the son of Amos and Lydia Peck Letcher, was born on 3 Mar 1850 in Summit Co, OH; he died on 28 Aug 1930 in Ottawa, Putnam Co, OH and was buried in Gilboa, OH. Father Amos Letcher was related to President James A. Garfield.

Flora Hamilton was born in Syracuse, NY on Dec 1861, parentage unknown.

JH Letcher and Ella York/Yerk/Haspethorne/Hospelhem were married on 26 Feb 1891 in Wood Co, OH and they had a daughter Nina Louise Letcher, born 30 Jan 1892 in Pualski Twp (Births v2 p152). Ella was married once before to *** York.In the divorce action there was mention of son Herbert alive in 1889.

Ella Haspethorne was the daughter of George and Marie Bamber Haspethorne; she was born on 22 Aug 1858 in Grand Rapids, OH and died on 23 Sept 1928 in Ottawa, Putnam Co, OH with burial in Blanchard, OH.Father George was once the postmaster in Gilead, Wood Co, OH. Mother Marie died on 30 July 1911 in Wood Co, OH and was buried in Otsego, OH.The family appears to stay in the Grand Rapids, Wood Co, OH area for many years.

The Letchers moved around a great deal as evidenced by the following census records:

What happened to errant wife, Flora?Flora Hamilton Letcher and her son Harold resided for over forty years in Brooklyn, NY with Flora being a missionary, a pysohorthropist, a magazine writer, and a housewife while Harold devoted his working years to selling insurance.They traveled to Bermuda together in 1923.